The muse of abandonment
Subtitle: origin, identity, mastery, in five American poets
By: Lee Upton.
Publisher: Bucknell University Press; Associated University Presses
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Lewisburg; London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 162
Subjects: Wright, Charles, 1935-  -- Criticism and interpretation.; Glück, Louise, 1943-  -- Criticism and interpretation.; Tate, James, 1943-  -- Criticism and interpretation.; American poetry -- 20th century -- History and criticism.; Alienation (Social psychology) in literature.; Power (Social sciences) in literature.; Identity (Psychology) in literature.; Liberty in literature.; Valentine, Jean -- Criticism and interpretation.; Edson, Russell -- Criticism and interpretation.
Description: The Muse of Abandonment examines personal and cultural forms of abandonment in the poetry of Charles Wright, Russell Edson, Jean Valentine, James Tate, and Louise Gluck. These poets register the tremors of the post-modern exhaustion of universals and a conflicted desire for authenticating presences.

The first book to study these poets as members of a generation, The Muse of Abandonment analyses the poets' recasting of confessional and surrealistic legacies and discusses their reflections on coercion of thought and behavior, and an atmosphere in contemporary culture that would trivialize private sensibility.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-158) and index.